Meter-box lid



Deus, i930.

M. F. SMITH METER Bb' LID Filed Nov. 2e "1921* Patented Dec. 9, 1930 UNITED STATES PATE-NT OFFICE MARION F. sMITI-I, OF DECATUR;.ILLINOIsAssIGNOn To Iain-:ImanV co., or DEGATR,

ILLINOIS, 'A' CORPORATION or" ILLINOIS4 METER-BX LID i y Application mea Nvember 26,1927. semi No. 235,932.y

This invention relates to a meter box lid structure and its princi-pal object is to provide an eifective meansfor attachingu and securing the lid in position upon the top member. A further obj ect of the invention is to support the lid in position upon the top mem'- ber in a manner which willprevent the entrance of undesirablematter and to combinel with the structure for this purpose a novel means for centering the head in position and preventing its lateral displacement'.y

It isa'lsoV an object of the invention to sok construct thelid and top member that the lid may slide upon vthe top member when raised or lowered on one`side due tothe cooperation of thelid structure and the structure of the' top member.

A very important objectof this inventionA is to provide a locking Vmeans which will serve to tightly clamp the lid to the top member of the box and prevent the sureptitious opening of the boX by unauthorized persons.

A further and importantobject ofthe invention is to so construct the lidy that any dbris" collecting about the external operating means for the locking device may be easily removed from the lid and the locking device operated by the authorized party.

Another object of the invention is tov provide a construction wherein" the locking means willhave a wedging engagement with the top member to clamp the parts together. An additional object resides in constructing member or key for operating the locking device in such a way as toy actas ay thrust receivingelement when. the key is rotated to lock or unlock the box'.

Another object is to be found in using the locking means to initially raise the'lid when it isV being unlocked soA that a: tool or' the fingers maybe used for further lifting the lid.

The invention has a particular objecti'n providing a construction which may be cheaply manufactured and will not become broken or constitute a temptation for unlawful tampering with the meter.

In the drawings:

ing the lid with means toreceive the operat- Y Figure l is atop line view. yFigure 2 is a view in section. Y Figure `3 isl a detailed view in section.

The' top member of my invent-ion is illustratedatl, and` is provided with a bottom' lateral. iange 2, which is connected with the cement orother wall of the box 3. At its upper end the top member is provided with an upwardly-and' inwardly inclined flange indicated at 4. Y f

The nd is preferably @asi .mais indican-.a

as a whole at 5. It is provided with radial Aownwardly projecting ribs or reinforcements indicated at 6. An annular downwardly extending iiange or ring 7is formed onvthe lid inwardly of the peripheral edge thereof A1 and betweenthis rim and the edge of the lid7` theupperwall of the recess 8 so formed in inclined downwardly and outwardly as shown at 9 manner complemental to the inclined flange 4 of .the topv member. Cast on the lid or secured thereto in any desired manner is adownwardly pro.- jecting memberor lug l0. This member, it will be observed, has a lateral extension 1l.

The top member is provided with one or more spaced inwardly Vopening slots l2 formed in theflange 4 and when it is desired' toposition` the lid, the member l0 is aligned With one'of these slots through which it will pass to bringvthe lid to rest upon the iiange and upon turning the lid'slightly the lateral extension 11 will' clear the walls of the slot and bedisposed beneath the fianges 4,' as shown inFigure 2.

It wiljl be noted that by reason of the inclinedfiange 4 and the corresponding inclination of the top wall of the lrecess in the lid,` no dirt or foreign matter can find its way into the box, since theoverlying relation" of the lid tothe top member will overcome' any possibility of this. Y Y

By the construction just described, the ring 7 and theinclined wall 9, together with the lug 117 provide the female memberof a The locking device comprises a stem having Y an enlarged squared head 15 forming a nut and a smooth cylindrical intermediate portion 16. The other end of the stem is squared i as at 16 and receives a member 17 having a squared opening 18 and provided eXter nally with a spiral or screw 19. The veX- treme end of the stem 15 is upset as at 20'to maintain the member 17 in position.

It will be'seen upon reference toY Figure 3 that the stem extends through an opening 21 in the cut away portion of the lid, which opening is cylindrical to receive the cylindrical portion of the stem to permit 4rotation of the stem therein as well as to permit the l stem to move slightly up and down'as the locking member is operated.

The head 15 of the stem, while described as squared, may be 'of anyl desired configurationI and structure and the spiral member may be connected to the lower portion of the stem by a keyed arrangement or any other means which will insure that rotation of the stem will rotate the spiralmember, in lieu of thesquared stem and recess engagement shown.

In placing the lockingdevice in position, the stem so formed is passed through the opening 21 in the lid and the spiral member is then applied, whereupon' the end is upset as shown at to support the spiral member upon the stem. i

This makes a very simple arrangement, and permits the locking member to be assembled upon and carried by the lid.

The spiral does not extend entirely about the member 17 and a free portion'is left in the member indicated at 22 in Figure 2. In order to operate the locking device, a key indicated at 23 is applied to thel squared end 15, and this key has an outwardly eX- tending lug 24 of a shape and size to pass within the groove 14 of the rear wall of the recess 13 in the lid. Inthis-m'anner the groove 14 will act as a thrust receiving element in the turning of the locking member.v

In applying the lid to the top member, the lug 10 is placed'in alignment with one of the slots 12 in the flange and the lid is centered in position by this alignment and by means ofthe 'ring 7. As stated, the lid ,is given a slight turning movement to bring the eXtension 11 beneath the flange 4 and it will be noted that this engagement of itself prevents any upward movement of the lid, and the ring 7 serves to prevent any lateral movement so that the lid is properly'centered with its inclined wall 9 resting on the inclined flange 4.

The locking device is turned to the right, so that as the spiral revolves, the free portion 22 will confront the flange 4 and thus allow the lid to slip into position. Continued turning of the key will cause the spiral to engage the under-surface of the flange 4, and effect a wedging engagement to securely hold the lid in position. The key may now be withdrawn and unauthorized persons will not be able to tamper with the lock.

To open the lid for inspection of the meter, the key isapplied and turned in a reverse direction, whereby the wedging relationof the parts isreleased and the spiral engages overthe upper-'surface of the flange and acts Yrecess because it is usuallyV exposed with the meter boxl in the ground, can beeasily picked out andthe key applied and the stem turned. This has been a previous difficulty with locking devices employed in meter boxes, and since an inspector examining themeter must necessarily take time in cleaning outvthe slot to apply'his key, very desirable. It .is merely necessary to push the dirt clear of the reces/s and to clean it -from the groove 13 when the key may be easily applied.A Y 7 This is quite an advantage over the Vusual type of key receiving` recess, which in most cases is made dished enabling the dirt to tightly pack VVand requiring considerable time to cut it out.

Upon reference to the drawing it will be the present construction isv seen that the ring 7 is cut away adjacent the locking structure upon opposite sides of the enlarged portion'in which the recess 13 is formed. i A

It will also be noted that the rear wall of the recessas well as the side walls in which the groove 14 is formed are relatively thick, so that with a firm structure at this point, the entrance of the lug into the groove will act as' a'thrust receiving element for the key, particularly when the lid is being released.

The groove 14 it will be also noted merges into the adjacent side walls ofl the recess which `continue to the edgeof the lid.`

While the invention .may have vother adaptations, not specifically here alluded to, it will'be understood that the appended claims are considered to cover changes and modifications which may be made without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

ibi

l/Vhat I claim is :l

l. In a meter box, a top member, a lid resting thereon, an open ended recess inthe lid having a groove extending about the Wall at the opposite end of the recess, a locking means for clamping the lid and top member together rotatably mounted in the lid with its operating extremity disposed in said recess, and a key for turning the locking means engaging sai operating extremity and having means engaging in said groove whereby the groove will act as a thrust receiving element in the turning of the locking member.

2. In a meter box, a top vmember `having an inclined flange, a lid having an inclined portion complemental to and resting on said flange, an open ended recess in the lid having a groove extending about the wall at the opposite end of the recess, a locking means for clamping the lid and top member together rotatably mounted in the lid withits operating extremity disposed in said recess, and al key for turning the locking means engaging said operating extremity and having means engaging in said groove whereby the groove will act as a thrust receiving element in the turning of the locking member.

3. In a meter box, a top member, having an inclined flange, a lid having an inclined portion complemental to and resting on said flange, an open ended recess in the lid having a groove extending about the wall of the recess at the opposite end-thereof, a locking device rotatable mounted in thelid with its operating extremity disposed in said recess said locking device comprising a spiral adapted to engage beneath the flange to tightly clamp the lid and top member when rotated in one direction and to engage and ride over the upper surface of the lange to raise the lid when rotated in the opposite direction, and a key for turning the locking device engaging said operating extremity and having a projection engaging in said groove to act as a thrust receiving element as the locking device is turned.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

MARION F. SMITH. 

